In today’s First Reading we hear about God’s covenant with Abraham. God assures Abraham, that if he is faithful and follows the directives given to him by God, all of Abraham’s descendants will be “God’s protected people”. In the life story of Abraham, we know that Abraham moved physically and literally according to God’s directives and that he and Sarah were given a son very late in life as they honored their covenant with God. This covenant, this relationship with God, and trust between Abraham and Abraham’s descendants is ours to honor and share today. If we remain faithful to that early covenant with God we too will live as a people who continue to receive God’s unconditional blessings. “The Lord remembers his covenant forever.”
In the Gospel today, Jesus begins to explain faith in an eternal life. “Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.” We are reminded that throughout our life on this earth, to give glory to God. “If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing.” God’s love, guidance and wisdom shared with us, as descendants of Abraham, now a people of faith helps us to believe in an everlasting life with God, long after our physical death on this earth. For me today, this Gospel is especially meaningful as today, April 10th, is the anniversary of my dad’s and an uncle’s physical death. My dad and his older brother, whom he was very close to, died in different years but both on April 10th. As a faith filled family we remember them both and believe that together they are enjoying eternal life with God.